Boxing Glove Having an Integrated Access Flap to Facilitate Cleaning and Sanitation

ABSTRACT

A boxing glove having an integrated access flap includes a glove main body, a thumb-receiving section, a hand-receiving opening, a securing strap. The thumb receiving section is integrated into the glove main body to receive the user&#39;s hand. The securing strap is also integrated into the glove main body to tighten the boxing glove. The glove main body includes an access flap and an elongated opening to facilitate cleaning and sanitation of the boxing glove. The access flap is integrated into the glove main body from an end and positioned atop the elongated opening from a volar surface of glove main body. The access flap is integrated into the glove main body through a first flap fastener and a second flap fastener so that the user is able to open the access flap as desired.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patent application Ser. No. 62/247,437 filed on Oct. 28, 2015.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to boxing gloves. More specifically, the present invention is a boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate in cleaning the interior surface.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Boxing gloves have been constructed the same way for decades. Current boxing glove configurations do not allow for easy cleaning as the majority of the interior surface is inaccessible. Traditional methods for cleaning a boxing glove include putting them in a freezer overnight (sometimes longer) to kill the bacteria or spraying the interior surface of the glove with anti-bacterial spray. Such methods require an unnecessary amount of time to kill off all the bacteria in addition to having to let the boxing gloves dry and air out. Further, because a majority of the interior surface is inaccessible, the user cannot visually confirm whether or not the entire interior surface has been cleaned.

Therefore, it is the objective of the present invention to provide a boxing glove with added components that facilitate in the cleaning process, while keeping the structural integrity of the boxing glove intact. The present invention is constructed in a way that it does not diminish the durability and performance of the boxing glove. An access flap is integrated into the boxing glove of the present invention which allows the user to access a majority of the interior surface. In this regard, the user is able to wipe down the entirety of the interior surface with ease. Additionally, the larger opening facilitates in the drying process, as more of the interior surface can be exposed to the air. The present invention provides numerous advantages over the boxing gloves that exist today.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the present invention depicting how the access flap opens;

FIG. 5 is another bottom plan view of the present invention depicting how the access flap opens;

FIG. 6 is a bottom perspective view showing how the bottom end of the present invention can be opened to clean the interior surface.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describing selected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention.

The present invention is a new and improved boxing glove that facilitates in cleaning the interior surface. The base structure of the present invention comprises components typical to boxing gloves. More specifically, an inner glove with multiple compartments separates thumb away from the fingers so that the user is able to retain a full range of movement while forming a natural fist. Under this configuration, the fingers are curled toward the palm with the thumb bent laterally over or along the side of the curled fingers, as depicted in FIG. 1-3. Padding is layered to the inner glove and arranged over the fist, thumb, and upper area of the boxing glove that depicts the dorsal surface of the hands so that the padding can provide protection for the user's hand. Encompassing the inner glove and padding are an outer shell holding the padding and general components of the boxing glove in place. The outer shell is preferably constructed from a soft but durable leather material. The outer shell is not limited to such materials and may be constructed from any soft and durable material suitable for boxing gloves. In reference to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises a glove main body 1, a thumb-receiving section 15, a hand-receiving opening 16, and a securing strap 17. The hand-receiving opening 16 traverses into the thumb-receiving section 15 and the glove main body 1 so that the user's hand can be properly placed within the glove main body 1. More specifically, the hand-receiving opening 16, or otherwise referred to as the “hand entrance”, is arranged to the base of the glove, opposite to the inner glove compartments, to allow the user to insert their hand to wear the boxing glove. Although the base structure of the boxing glove is described herein, it is understood that such structure is well known to the industry and can be utilized to highlight the unique aspects of the new and improved boxing glove configuration implemented by the present invention. The thumb-receiving section 15 is integrated into the glove main body 1 to receive the user's thumb while the glove main body 1 encloses the user's fingers. The securing strap 17 is integrated into the glove main body 1 so that the user can tighten the boxing glove around their wrist when worn.

In reference to FIG. 4, the glove main body 1 comprises a volar surface 2, a finger-receiving section 3, a palm-receiving section 4, a wrist-receiving section 5, an access flap 6, and an elongated opening 11. Similar to traditional boxing gloves, the palm-receiving section 4 is positioned in between the finger-receiving section 3 and the wrist-receiving section 5. The thumb-receiving section 15 is integrated into the palm-receiving section 4. The hand-receiving opening 16 traverses into the glove main body 1 and the thumb-receiving section 15 from a bottom end 21 of the glove main body 1. As a result, when the user insert their hand into the present invention through the had-receiving opening, the thumb-receiving section 15 fully encircles the user's thumb, the finger-receiving section 3 fully encircles the user's fingers, the palm-receiving section 4 fully encircles the user's hand with respect to the palm and dorsal surface, and the wrist-receiving section 5 fully encircles the user's wrist. The securing strap 17 is preferably integrated into the wrist-receiving section 5 and oppositely positioned of the thumb-receiving section 15 to tighten the boxing glove. However, the securing strap 17 can also be integrated into the wrist-receiving section 5, adjacent to the thumb-receiving section 15 in alternative embodiment.

The elongated opening 11 is a rectangular cutout of the glove main body 1 arranged to the inner palm area, as depicted in FIG. 4. The elongated opening 11 traverses through the volar surface 2 and positioned along the wrist-receiving section 5 and the palm-receiving section 4. More specifically, the glove main body 1 further comprises a top edge 12, a first lateral edge 13, and a second lateral edge 14. In reference to FIG. 4, the top edge 12 is extended across the palm-receiving section 4. The first lateral edge 13 and the second lateral edge 14 are perpendicularly positioned with the top edge 12. In other words, the first lateral edge 13 is extended along the palm-receiving section 4 and the wrist-receiving section 5 while the second lateral edge 14 is also extended along the palm-receiving section 4 and the wrist-receiving section 5.

Resultantly, the elongated opening 11 is delineated by the top edge 12, the first lateral edge 13, and the second lateral edge 14. The elongated opening 11 extends from the hand-receiving opening 16 and vertically up toward the curled pocket of the finger-receiving section 3. The elongated opening 11 extends to a point below the finger-receiving section 3. In other words, the elongated opening 11 does not extend into the finger-receiving section 3 and stops within the palm-receiving section 4. This configuration keeps the clenched pocket of the glove main body 1 intact, preventing any losses in durability and performance. The width of the elongated opening 11 corresponds to the varying sizes of the boxing gloves, however, may not extend into the thumb-receiving section 15 or the securing strap 17. Sufficient space is provided between the elongated opening 11 and thumb-receiving section 15 and the elongated opening 11 and the securing strap 17 for the positioning of the access flap 6.

The access flap 6 is a thin, rectangular component that is constructed from the same soft and durable leather material of the glove main body 1. The access flap 6 comprises a proximal end 7, a distal end 8, a first extended end 9, and a second extended end 10. In reference to FIG. 4, the proximal end 7 is adjacently positioned with the finger-receiving section 3 and connected to the palm-receiving section 4. The distal end 8 being adjacently positioned with the wrist-receiving section 5. In other words, the proximal end 7 is connected to the point above the top edge 12, corresponding to where the elongated opening 11 terminates, in a hinge-like fashion to the volar surface 2 of the glove main body 1. The access flap 6 is then arranged parallel to the first lateral edge 13 and the second lateral edge 14, wherein the elongated opening 11 is enclosed by the access flap 6.

In reference to FIG. 5, the access flap 6 is integrated into the wrist-receiving section 5 and the palm-receiving section 4. More specifically, the first extended end 9 is removably attached to the first lateral edge 13 by a first flap fastener 18 such that the first flap fastener 18 is connected onto the interior surface of the access flap 6 along the first extended end 9 and the volar surface 2 of the first lateral edge 13. The second extended end 10 is removably attached to the second lateral edge 14 by a second flap fastener 19 such that the second flap fastener 19 is connected onto the interior surface of the access flap 6 along the second extended end 10 and the volar surface 2 of the second lateral edge 14, opposite the first flap fastener 18. A hook-and-loop fastener is preferably used as the first flap fastener 18 and the second flap fastener 19 within the present invention. However, the present invention can utilize any other types of fastening members that can be easily separated as the first flap fastener 18 and the second flap fastener 19. With the access flap 6 being open and fold back, the user can space the first lateral edge 13 and the second lateral edge 14 to reveal a large portion of the inner surface of the present invention to facilitate in cleaning, as depicted in FIG. 6. Although not specifically depicted in the figures, the third flap fastener can be arranged between the top edge 12 and the proximal end 7 of the access flap 6 to provide a three-point securing system for the access flap 6.

The securing strap 17 is a thin, rectangular component constructed from the same soft and durable leather material of the glove main body 1. The securing strap 17, which comprises a fixed end 22, a strap body 23, and a free end 24, is arranged along the hand-receiving opening 16 and perpendicularly positioned the access flap 6 as shown in FIG. 1. More specifically, the fixed end 22 is connected to the wrist-receiving section 5 so that the strap body 23 can be looped around the wrist-receiving section 5 to properly tighten the glove main body 1 around the user's hand. The free end 24 is removably attached to the wrist-receiving section 5 by a strap faster. A hook-and-loop fastener is preferably used as the strap fastener 20 within the present invention. However, the present invention can utilize any other types of fastening members that can be easily separated as the strap fastener 20.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications and variations can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation comprises: a glove main body; a thumb-receiving section; a hand-receiving opening; a securing strap; the glove main body comprises a volar surface, a finger-receiving section, a palm-receiving section, a wrist-receiving section, an access flap, and an elongated opening; the palm-receiving section being positioned in between the finger-receiving section and the wrist-receiving section; the thumb-receiving section being integrated into the palm-receiving section; the securing strap being integrated into the wrist-receiving section, opposite of the thumb-receiving section; the hand-receiving opening traversing into the glove main body and the thumb-receiving section from a bottom end of the glove main body; the elongated opening traversing through the volar surface and positioned along the wrist-receiving section and the palm-receiving section; the elongated opening being enclosed by the access flap; and the access flap being integrated into the wrist-receiving section and the palm-receiving section.
 2. The boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation as claimed in claim 1 comprises: the glove main body comprises a top edge, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge; the top edge being extended across the palm-receiving section; the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge being perpendicularly positioned with the top edge; the first lateral edge being extended along the palm-receiving section and the wrist-receiving section; the second lateral edge being extended along the palm-receiving section and the wrist-receiving section; and the elongated opening being delineated by the top edge, the first lateral edge, and the second lateral edge.
 3. The boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a first flap fastener; a second flap fastener; the access flap comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a first extended end, and a second extended end; the proximal end being adjacently positioned with the finger-receiving section and connected to the palm-receiving section; the distal end being adjacently positioned with the wrist-receiving section; the first extended end being removably attached to a first lateral edge of the elongated opening by the first flap fastener; and the second extended end being removably attached to a second lateral edge of the elongated opening by the second flap fastener.
 4. The boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first flap fastener is a hook-and-loop fastener.
 5. The boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second flap fastener is a hook-and-loop fastener.
 6. The boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation as claimed in claim 1 comprises: a strap fastener; the securing strap comprises a fixed end, a strap body, a free end; the fixed end being connected to the wrist-receiving section; the strap body being looped around the wrist-receiving section; and the free end being removably attached to the wrist-receiving section by the strap fastener.
 7. The boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation as claimed in claim 6, wherein the strap fastener is a hook-and-loop fastener.
 8. A boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation comprises: a glove main body; a thumb-receiving section; a hand-receiving opening; a securing strap; a first flap fastener; a second flap fastener; the glove main body comprises a volar surface, a finger-receiving section, a palm-receiving section, a wrist-receiving section, an access flap, and an elongated opening; the palm-receiving section being positioned in between the finger-receiving section and the wrist-receiving section; the thumb-receiving section being integrated into the palm-receiving section; the securing strap being integrated into the wrist-receiving section, opposite of the thumb-receiving section; the hand-receiving opening traversing into the glove main body and the thumb-receiving section from a bottom end of the glove main body; the elongated opening traversing through the volar surface and positioned along the wrist-receiving section and the palm-receiving section; the elongated opening being enclosed by the access flap; and the access flap being integrated into the wrist-receiving section and the palm-receiving section through the first flap fastener and the second flap fastener.
 9. The boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation as claimed in claim 8 comprises: the glove main body comprises a top edge, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge; the top edge being extended across the palm-receiving section; the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge being perpendicularly positioned with the top edge; the first lateral edge being extended along the palm-receiving section and the wrist-receiving section; the second lateral edge being extended along the palm-receiving section and the wrist-receiving section; and the elongated opening being delineated by the top edge, the first lateral edge, and the second lateral edge.
 10. The boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation as claimed in claim 8 comprises: the access flap comprises a proximal end, a distal end, a first extended end, and a second extended end; the proximal end being adjacently positioned with the finger-receiving section and connected to the palm-receiving section; the distal end being adjacently positioned with the wrist-receiving section; the first extended end being removably attached to a first lateral edge of the elongated opening by the first flap fastener; and the second extended end being removably attached to a second lateral edge of the elongated opening by the second flap fastener.
 11. The boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation as claimed in claim 10, wherein the first flap fastener is a hook-and-loop fastener.
 12. The boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation as claimed in claim 10, wherein the second flap fastener is a hook-and-loop fastener.
 13. The boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation as claimed in claim 8 comprises: a strap fastener; the securing strap comprises a fixed end, a strap body, a free end; the fixed end being connected to the wrist-receiving section; the strap body being looped around the wrist-receiving section; and the free end being removably attached to the wrist-receiving section by the strap fastener.
 14. The boxing glove having an integrated access flap to facilitate cleaning and sanitation as claimed in claim 13, wherein the strap fastener is a hook-and-loop fastener. 